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Hey guys, I’m in the process of building a boosted LQ4 for a 1979 C10. I was hoping to get some guidance on what front accessory setup would be good for the manifolds. I bought the speed engineering forward facing LS manifolds. I’ll be running a vintage air kit as well (sandeen 709). The motor that I started with didn’t have anything on the front of the block so I’ll be buying everything from scratch.
I have looked into the Holley mid mount but it’s a tough one for budget, but they say it clears the hooker turbo manifolds and it includes everything.
I’ve also contacted ICT and it doesn’t seem like they have brackets that will work for the turbo manifolds and the Sandeen 709…
So are you running, or going to run power steering?
I can't really say with those headers, I'm sure guys on here have experience with those.
So on YouTube A21Bravo has a video where he puts together that Holley mid mount on a "budget". It's still not cheap, but much better than buying it all from Holley.
The truck fead is really the tightest factory setup, but there's a lot of factors on a turbo build.
I have a truck fead bracket, but used a Corvette water pump with spacers because of other placement factors, but I have a S10 with twins.
Thanks for the quick response rpturbo, and the advice. I have plenty of room in the engine bay, but the potential for interference is very high for the turbo manifold and the fead. I'll be sure to check his Youtube channel out in hopes of some answers. I will be running power steering as well.
After some continuous research, I am finding that the dimensions given by the Holley Mid Mount (PN 20-185) in comparison to the ICT Billet AC Bracket (551474-3) and Power Steering & Alternator bracket (551519x-3) are not too far off from one another, but the Holley is definitely more tucked. Going with the ICT would be half the price.
Once my motor is back from the shop and I can get it together, I will have a better idea on where I am on room with measurements.
Hey guys, I’m in the process of building a boosted LQ4 for a 1979 C10. I was hoping to get some guidance on what front accessory setup would be good for the manifolds. I bought the speed engineering forward facing LS manifolds. I’ll be running a vintage air kit as well (sandeen 709). The motor that I started with didn’t have anything on the front of the block so I’ll be buying everything from scratch.
I have looked into the Holley mid mount but it’s a tough one for budget, but they say it clears the hooker turbo manifolds and it includes everything.
I’ve also contacted ICT and it doesn’t seem like they have brackets that will work for the turbo manifolds and the Sandeen 709…
Any help would be appreciated.
I'm not sure I'm following why you mentioned the Hooker turbo manifolds when you said you have the Speed Engineering forward facing headers maybe I missed something. As far as I know those Speed Engineering forward facing headers will interfere with a truck power steering pump on the drivers side. I THINK you can remove the reservoir and use a remote reservoir and it MIGHT clear but that's just based on a few setups I've seen I cannot verify that for fact. Honestly the truck accessory setup is readily available in junkyards and most people throw them away so I'm guessing you could grab some for almost nothing. I'd grab the A/C compressor as well and see if you can get it to work with what you've got I'd have to say that would be the cheapest option by far. Another manifold option may have to be explored as well or some modification to those ones. Good luck.
Sorry for the confusion SwapStang, I only mentioned the Hooker Manifolds as that is the only one that Holley stated the Mid-mount kit would clear.
I’m continuously checking the junkyards here in TN, but it seems as they are often robbed of everything, even the truck accessories. I’m not opposed to spending a little cash on AC Delco components and new brackets, just not $2k worth..
I’m not 100% sure on the power steering interference as there is a user on here with a Chevelle that mounted the speed engineering with what looked like stock truck accessories and it was CLOSE.
I also think you can run the speed engineering up and forward or down and forward from some of the threads I’ve read, but I’m not sure.
Spray280, that setup looks great! Thank you for sharing the pic and info, it definitely gives me a better idea of the ICT setup and location of components.
In a mock-up with eBay up and forward cleared the stock truck accessories, alt, PS etc. I didnt mock up anything with AC either but ICT makes a stock truck bracket. I never ran these headers but I did mock them up for a hot sec.
customblackbird, thanks for the photo, good to know it clears the ps pump in the up and forward. But it also looks like it would interfere with the ps pump in the down and forward. With all of the photos posted, I have gotten a better idea on the amount of room I should have. As far as A/C goes, the stock truck location wont clear the frame rails on the C10 (based on what I have read). Dirty Dingo makes a bracket that allows me to run lower A/C position and fit inside the frame, but I have the same issue that I do not know if it will clear the Speed Engineering manifolds. ICT does suggest the A/C bracket like spray280 put on his for my C10, but they were unsure if it would clear the turbo manifold as well.
Thanks to everyone who has shared so far! Other suggestions and opinions are welcomed and appreciated. If anyone is aware of any boosted C10's or other turbo manifold setups with truck spacing and/or aftermarket brackets that are similar, please let me know and I'll be happy to search the forum.
customblackbird, thanks for the photo, good to know it clears the ps pump in the up and forward. But it also looks like it would interfere with the ps pump in the down and forward. With all of the photos posted, I have gotten a better idea on the amount of room I should have. As far as A/C goes, the stock truck location wont clear the frame rails on the C10 (based on what I have read). Dirty Dingo makes a bracket that allows me to run lower A/C position and fit inside the frame, but I have the same issue that I do not know if it will clear the Speed Engineering manifolds. ICT does suggest the A/C bracket like spray280 put on his for my C10, but they were unsure if it would clear the turbo manifold as well.
Thanks to everyone who has shared so far! Other suggestions and opinions are welcomed and appreciated. If anyone is aware of any boosted C10's or other turbo manifold setups with truck spacing and/or aftermarket brackets that are similar, please let me know and I'll be happy to search the forum.
if your planning to run down and forward you can’t run anything near the middle/bottom of the block. I tried flipping them as well and it hit a few things. Down and forward would prob hit a low mount anything (alternator or AC) so I don’t think that would work for you. Sounds like you need a high mount AC and an S10 should have lots of height above (clearance to hood).
customblackbird, thanks for the photo, good to know it clears the ps pump in the up and forward. But it also looks like it would interfere with the ps pump in the down and forward. With all of the photos posted, I have gotten a better idea on the amount of room I should have. As far as A/C goes, the stock truck location wont clear the frame rails on the C10 (based on what I have read). Dirty Dingo makes a bracket that allows me to run lower A/C position and fit inside the frame, but I have the same issue that I do not know if it will clear the Speed Engineering manifolds. ICT does suggest the A/C bracket like spray280 put on his for my C10, but they were unsure if it would clear the turbo manifold as well.
Thanks to everyone who has shared so far! Other suggestions and opinions are welcomed and appreciated. If anyone is aware of any boosted C10's or other turbo manifold setups with truck spacing and/or aftermarket brackets that are similar, please let me know and I'll be happy to search the forum.
I know low mount A/C can be an issue on a lot of vehicles but is notching the frame to clear it not an option? I've seen this done quite a few times before. I know its a bit of work but if you can fab it yourself it would cost you almost nothing except for your time and a couple pieces of steel.
customblackbird providing the pics were a great reference and I forget how many different style truck PS pumps there are. The one i was referring to has the taller reservoir but now that I see it clears a "stubby" reservoir I'd still consider a remote fill PS pump like what you'd find in an Express Van. It looks like you'd have a hell of a time filling that thing if it was installed in that configuration.
I was really hoping in not having to alter the frame on this build is all, not that I am completely against it, but I have made a few other things work without notching the frame (rear flip kit with no C notch mainly). It's just kind of one of the things I was attempting to avoid specifically on this truck.. Unfortunately, I do not have the capabilities to make them myself nor the tooling, but I could possibly draw them up in CAD and have a shop do them, I just really dont have any idea on where to start, being this is my first build.
I had no clue that there were multiple types of power steering pumps either! I'll take a look into the remote option to see if it can be a viable option if the manifolds dont fit once I get the motor back from the shop.
I wanted to provide a little update after installing the motor and trans and mocking up the Speed Engineering turbo headers with my setup. Components that I am currently running that would have some effect on the clearance are -- 317 heads, Granatelli Motorsport Valve Covers with integrated coil mounts, and Dirty Dingo slider mounts. I have not mounted any of the front accessories at the moment, but will soon get those mocked up at the least to find any other issues. The turbo manifolds are in the "up and forward position" due to the fact that the "down and forward" had interference with the manifolds and frame. Almost all of the coil packs are impossible to mount due to interference with the coil packs and manifolds. I've attached some photos for reference.
Another thing you could consider at this point, is running a electric steering setup. It normally mounts in the cab under the dash. You can buy them in the yard, or used off eBay/Craigslist ECT. That would also free up some room. Sometimes you have to get creative, but it depends on several things.
I'm getting ready to hopefully complete my twin turbo swap on my S10, while having inner fenders, full exhaust, and everything still intact.
Thanks rpturbo for the reply, I'll have to take a look at the electronic ones if I run into issues on the power steering pump and other accessories when I get them mounted. I do plan on running inner fenders as well, but just have them out to make things a little easier at the moment. They'll be going in soon as well to ensure fitment of everything. After mounting the manifolds, I am seriously considering running two smaller turbos rather than the single 7875 that I had originally planned.
As far as the coil pack and plug wire fitment issue is concerned, I am in the process of cleaning my stock valve covers to swap out the Granatelli Motorsports covers that I bought. I took a few small measurements of both valve covers, and it seems like I should get about 0.5"-0.75" more clearance with the stock valve covers. I'll provide some pictures once I get them mounted. I also think that I have some room to fabricate some adapters for the coil pack bracket.
In doing some searching, I also came across some exhaust manifold flanges that are 0.375" thick and would push the manifolds away from the block by that much. I am just concerned they may leak like crazy. I have two sets of gaskets I could use, or get someone to weld the spacers on if they work. Here's the link
After mounting the power steering and alternator with the ICT bracket 551519x-3, I had some more fitment issues with the driver side turbo manifold. Once all was in place, the manifold flange was about 1.5-1.65" from being flush on the block with all of the interference in the alternator. To clear this issue, I need the alternator to move inward toward the intake about 1.75". I am going to search ICT billet for another bracket and also attempt to find some stock brackets in the yards around here to see what might work.
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Front Accessory for Turbo LQ4 
